Articles by Andrew Chesterton

Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist

CarsGuide contributing journalist Andrew Chesterton is an award-winning Australian automotive reporter with more than 20 years of experience across newspapers, magazines, digital publishing and automotive corporate communications.

Andrew began his journalism career at Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, reporting across business, courts, crime, property and state politics before moving into automotive journalism.

He joined Top Gear Australia as its online editor in 2008, later being appointed editor of Top Gear New Zealand. He subsequently worked as an assistant editor during the Australian launch of the Daily Mail Australia, and as communications manager at FCA Australia, now Stellantis.

His experience on both sides of the media industry gives him an unrivalled understanding of the automotive industry, and the relationship between car manufacturers, the media, and Australian consumers.

Andrew’s work has appeared across leading automotive, news, business, luxury, travel and lifestyle publications, including CarsGuide, EV Central, DMARGE, The Sydney Morning Herald, Marie Claire, Top Gear, GQ Australia, The Australian, WISH Magazine, Boss Hunting, The West Australian, The Nightly, Women’s Day Australia, Carsales, NRMA, Men’s Health, CEO Magazine, Australian Financial Review and more.  

Andrew specialises in industry news, vehicle reviews, policy,  performance and luxury cars, electric vehicles, automotive technology, EVs hybrid and plug-in hybrids, and the broader Australian new-car marketplace.

In 2025, Andrew was named Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year and was a finalist for the overall Journalist of the Year award.

Earlier honours include Website of the Year wins at the Australian Magazine Awards and ACP Awards, the ACP Rising Star Award and recognition in the Bauer Media and News Ltd journalism awards.

Expertise

  • Electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles
  • Performance, luxury and supercars
  • New-car reviews and road testing
  • Australian automotive industry and new-car sales
  • Chinese automotive brands and emerging manufacturers
  • Utes, SUVs and family vehicles
  • Automotive technology
  • Policy

Awards

  • 2025 Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year

Featured Publications

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Bargain BYD LandCruiser Prado rival nears
By Andrew Chesterton · 14 Sep 2023
BYD's cut-price answer to vehicles like the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, Nissan Patrol and Ford Everest has been cleared for launch, with the Fang Cheng Bao 5 clearing its final regulatory hurdles ahead of launch.
Read the article
Kia to launch diesel AND all-electric utes
By Andrew Chesterton · 10 Sep 2023
Kia will deliver a two-prong ute strategy in Australia, with the Korean brand confirming it will launch the diesel-powered TK (thought to be called the Tasman) and an all-electric dual-cab to cover all market bases.That would see the Kia ute go up against
Read the article
Could the Subaru Brumby make a comeback?
By Andrew Chesterton · 09 Sep 2023
Subaru Australia will be first in the queue for a Toyota Stout-based Brumby, with the brand's Australian executives suggesting a reincarnation of the iconic workhorse is at the top of its wish list.Toyota and Subaru are long-time collaborators, first with
Read the article
2025 Toyota HiLux to stick with diesel?
By Andrew Chesterton · 07 Sep 2023
The all-new 2025 Toyota HiLux looks almost certain to stick with a diesel powertrain, as the Japanese giant's Australian executives point to a true electric HiLux being years away at best.
Read the article
EV wave washed away by utes in August
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Sep 2023
Normal new-car broadcasting returned to Australia in August, with the Tesla Model Y slipping out of the top five, and the Tesla Model 3 falling out of the top 10, with ute-beaut favourites like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max dominating the sales charts.
Read the article
BYD's off-road SUV bargain!
By Andrew Chesterton · 05 Sep 2023
BYD has reportedly confirmed international pricing for its rugged and off-road-ready Fang Cheng Bao 5, with the powerful hybrid SUV to be a comparative bargain when compared to models like the Toyota LandCruiser, Kia EV9, Nissan Patrol.
Read the article
Meet the BYD Seal U electric SUV!
By Andrew Chesterton · 04 Sep 2023
The BYD Seal U electric SUV has been unveiled overnight, revealing the vehicle that would cement the Chinese carmaker on the new-car map in Australia.
Read the article
All-new Subaru Forester Hybrid coming!
By Andrew Chesterton · 01 Sep 2023
An all-new Subaru Forester will finally introduce "new hybrid technology" that will level the playing field with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, with arguably the Japanese brand's most important model expected to arrive late next year or in 2025.
Read the article
The big Kia ute question answered
By Andrew Chesterton · 31 Aug 2023
Kia has made no bones about its incoming ute, possibly called the Tasman, aiming to be crowned the benchmark dual-cab ute in Australia, but to do it, it will need to unseat segment heavyweights like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
Read the article
Subaru Outback 2024 review: Sport XT long-term | Part 1
By Andrew Chesterton · 30 Aug 2023
Long-standing family favourite, the Subaru Outback, now has the option of punchy turbocharged power in its upper trim levels, addressing one of the key - and few - complaints levelled at the model. We put the 2023 Subaru Outback Sport XT to the long-term test to find out if the extra power is worth your extra investment.
Read the article